Spy Poll: Would You Support Independent Films being Shown in Chestertown?

With the good news that a movie theater was be making its return to Chestertown in the next month or so, the subject of what kind of films this new establishment will offer has come up recently with our chats with Spy readers.

Typically, a movie house in a college town offers a far greater variety of films than most cineplexes. Beyond the action flicks and formula-driven romantic comedies that have become standard fare these days, there is a real attempt to bring independent films to these communities knowing there is a real customer base for such alternative motion pictures, with many of them find themselves on the Academy Awards list every year.

The Spy has no knowledge of the new owners’ programming intentions, but thought it wouldn’t hurt to share with them how much support, or lack thereof, there would be for the screening of independent films in the greater Chestertown community.

Take the Spy poll and tell us what you think? Fill out the survey here

Letters to Editor

We will support most movies . We like some independent movies too. We love to go to the movies, but have not been going due to the majority ones that are out in popular theaters are not worth our time.

Did someone mention Indep/Small Films. Here is a short list that we would pay to see.

“Tully” A very different kind of adult fairy tale (one that frequently doubles as a feature-length advertisement for tubal ligation), “Tully” is a fantasy of the highest order.
“RBG” When she was growing up, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s beloved mother Celia gave her two lessons to guide her through life: “Be a lady” and “Be independent.”
“Revenge” If you love New French Extremity films like “High Tension” and “Martyrs,” and have been yearning for a grisly, blood-soaked heroine, have we got the film for you.
“The Day After,” South Korean favorite Hong Sang-soo has been unstoppable as of late. “The Day After” will be the director’s third in the U.S. in the last year alone.
“Filmworker,” An absolute must-see documentary for fans of Stanley Kubrick.
“Pope Francis – A Man of His Word,” Wim Wenders’ latest documentary, “Pope Francis – A Man of His Word,” will make its global debut at Cannes, but without the Pope.
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” John Cameron Mitchell’s “How To Talk to Girls at Parties” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and is finally coming to theaters this summer.
“American Animals” “You’ve seen too many movies.” It’s a line that’s almost as old as the movies themselves. And yet, in reality, very few people have actually seen too many movies.
“Hearts Beat Loud” It’s hard to imagine being embarrassed to have Nick Offerman as your dad, but by sheer force of effortless charm, Kiersey Clemons (“Dope”) makes it look natural.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers,’” wrote beloved children’s television host Fred Rogers in one of his 36 books.
“Zama” Argentine master Lucrecia Martel tackles her most ambitious subject to date with this eerie and darkly funny look at a Spanish diplomat adrift in Colonialist Latin America.
Etc………….

Already I saw the words most and some in the responses. That is like saying yes, a little, but ask me again. The Maryland Board of Censors used to say those things. The Catholic Legion of Decency used to say those things. Should you care to ask about prior restraint……banning most or some films in advance….nobody would go along with that…Betya.

So you ask the unaskable question.

“Independent” might be anything. Any objection to that? Avant-garde stuff might be OK for some but you go and serve up experimental, iconoclastic, slice of life free association films and some might get confused. They may even grow and stretch their preconceptions about how life works. Or not.

Even though once you are off the cliff you can’t un jump so sitting back and enjoying the ride is a great option.